Conservation commission approves wetland protections for 225 Avery Brook Road driveway project

The Charlemont Conservation Committee on July 11 approved a Notice of Intent for a single-family home at 225 Avery Brook Road that will include a 750-foot driveway with a single wetland crossing. Engineer Charlie LaBatt presented the application and consultant Andre-Anne Chenaille of Guntlow Associates, Inc. assisted during the discussion; the wetlands were delineated by Ward Smith of Wendell Wetland Services.

The commission questioned road placement and surrounding topography and required several conditions to protect wetland functions before issuing its Order. The conditions, adopted unanimously, require a preconstruction meeting involving the owner, contractor, the conservation commission and the wetlands consultant at least 48 hours before construction begins; periodic conservation commission inspections (about once a month) after storms producing roughly an inch of rain, during construction and after construction until sediment-control vegetation is established; and revised engineering plans that add a sufficiently sized cross culvert at the wetland crossing and additional cross culverts where needed to prevent potential driveway washouts and to preserve hydrologic and ecological connectivity.

Clay Herbert moved to close the hearing and to approve the Order and special conditions; Scott Randall seconded, and the motion passed with all in favor. The commission instructed the project engineer to submit revised plans reflecting the culvert requirements and to coordinate the preconstruction meeting and inspection schedule with commission staff.

Next steps are submission of the revised plans by the project engineer and implementation of the erosion-control and inspection regime required in the Order.